Smallest bike for 2-up Sport Touring?

[AJP]

From your experience, what is the smallest sport-touring bike that can comfortably be ridden 2-up?  I love my current small bike (CBR125R), but there is no way I would carry a passenger on it.  

I love how nimble small bikes are in the corners, and how easy they are to maneuver at low speeds (I have never dropped my bike).  

My insurance (with State Farm) is based solely on engine size, so the smaller it is, the cheaper to insure...

All that being said, I would love to take my wife with me when I go out riding.  How small a bike can I get that can do the things I enjoy (commuting, touring, taking a spirited ride in the twisties) and also comfortably carry a passenger on the back?

[RickC1957]

  The VFR....the ST3.... But I won't call either small. SV650 I can't imagine doing two up Sport touring on a GS500

[tigertim955]

 Insurance up here IS a factor in bike choice. My girlfriend and I will ride good distance on our '69 BSA 650 , 200kms +, but it's a killer by the time we get home.( I've got lots of respect for the guys who rode them across the country back in the day ! ) I figure an EX500 or similar Suzuki would give lots of power and room for two. Those CBR 125 's look like a blast to ride ! You'd never have to let up on the throttle on the 511 !!!

[davop]

The Yamaha FZ6 has the ergos of a liter bike and would work two up. But, you'd have to keep the revs up cause it's not torquey. Another option is the Suzuki DL650. It has a torquey V-twin and is very roomy for two up. But, it does ride high, which maybe intimidating for your passenger. The Kawasaki Ninja 650 might work, but it's not as roomy.

[JReazor]

SV650

My wife would not recomend the SV. The engine isn't a huge issue but she finds the pillion seating position too uncomfortable for more then a short ride. The pegs are too high.

[Rincewind]

I've often heard the V-strom 650 does ok 2-up, but I don't have any personal experience with that bike.  If you want to stay under 600cc for insurance, the Honda 599 (maybe called Hornet 600 in Canada, I'm not sure) appears to have a reasonable pillion seat with legroom.  

[birdrunner]

I've often heard the V-strom 650 does ok 2-up, but I don't have any personal experience with that bike.  If you want to stay under 600cc for insurance, the Honda 599 (maybe called Hornet 600 in Canada, I'm not sure) appears to have a reasonable pillion seat with legroom.  

+1



And RE  CBR125.   Did you get in on the Promotion this spring.   They sold very well here!   Can't beat the price.     I want a used one for track days.

[cosmoose]

All that being said, I would love to take my wife with me when I go out riding.  How small a bike can I get that can do the things I enjoy (commuting, touring, taking a spirited ride in the twisties) and also comfortably carry a passenger on the back?

If you're clever about it, you could probably fit her onto the back of a Bandit 400 with a custom seat (like a Russell) that's wider than stock.  Ditto the GS500 or Ninja 500.  Maybe you could rig a Ninja 250 similarly, but I don't know how wide or long the seat pan is on that one.  

The seat, obviously, has a lot to do with how comfortable the bike is.  Pick something with the widest, longest rear pad you can find, budget about $500 for the custom work, and make your wife happy.  

That said, I have a V-Strom 1000 with a custom seat, and my wife still isn't happy.  So a lot depends on the woman...

Dave

[Avigar]

It would depend on the combined weight of the rider + passenger + luggage capacity. I'd go with the VFR800 as a minimum. You'll need an aftermarket seat with a backrest.

[JReazor]

So a lot depends on the woman...

Ya got that right!

[AJP]

The Yamaha FZ6 has the ergos of a liter bike and would work two up. But, you'd have to keep the revs up cause it's not torquey. Another option is the Suzuki DL650. It has a torquey V-twin and is very roomy for two up. But, it does ride high, which maybe intimidating for your passenger. The Kawasaki Ninja 650 might work, but it's not as roomy.

I sat on the FZ6 today.  It felt pretty big for a 600; I couldn't comfortably flat-foot it with both feet.  I understand it can be lowered.  The DL looks big too, but I haven't sat on one so can't say for sure.  I love the Ninja 650, and the rear seat looks bigger than on many 600s, but I don't know how high the rear footpegs are...does anyone have experience riding pillion on a Ninja 650?

My wife would not recomend the SV. The engine isn't a huge issue but she finds the pillion seating position too uncomfortable for more then a short ride. The pegs are too high.

Yeah, I was afraid of that...it looked like they were.

I've often heard the V-strom 650 does ok 2-up, but I don't have any personal experience with that bike.  If you want to stay under 600cc for insurance, the Honda 599 (maybe called Hornet 600 in Canada, I'm not sure) appears to have a reasonable pillion seat with legroom.  

I'm a little hesitant to get a bike with carbs at this point, since I'd trust the fuel injection more when it gets cold (which of course it is often up here).  The 2007 Hornet that was released this year in England looks amazing...love the new engine too...yet to hear if we will get it in Canada next year.  I wonder if it would be tougher to take long rides on a naked bike (I have never tried a naked)?

If you're clever about it, you could probably fit her onto the back of a Bandit 400 with a custom seat (like a Russell) that's wider than stock.  Ditto the GS500 or Ninja 500.  Maybe you could rig a Ninja 250 similarly, but I don't know how wide or long the seat pan is on that one.  

The seat, obviously, has a lot to do with how comfortable the bike is.  Pick something with the widest, longest rear pad you can find, budget about $500 for the custom work, and make your wife happy.  

Any recommendations (other than Corbin) for custom seats?  Or do you mean CUSTOM custom?

It would depend on the combined weight of the rider + passenger + luggage capacity. I'd go with the VFR800 as a minimum. You'll need an aftermarket seat with a backrest.

I'd say 500 lbs?  The VFR is heavier than I would like, and will cost more in insurance, but it is attractive in just about every other aspect...

And RE  CBR125.   Did you get in on the Promotion this spring.   They sold very well here!   Can't beat the price.     I want a used one for track days.

I did get in on the GO promotion.  I LOVE the bike.  I'm hoping to keep it and add a second bike, but we'll see.

[Rincewind]

I'm a little hesitant to get a bike with carbs at this point, since I'd trust the fuel injection more when it gets cold (which of course it is often up here).  The 2007 Hornet that was released this year in England looks amazing...love the new engine too...yet to hear if we will get it in Canada next year.  I wonder if it would be tougher to take long rides on a naked bike (I have never tried a naked)?

In my experience carbs will run fine in the cold.  It would have a choke for cold-starting.  You can tour as long as you want on a naked bike.  If you notice, a lot of naked bike riders install windscreens of one sort or another.  By buying an aftermarket windscreen you can get the exact level of protection you want for however cold you want.  A Hornet with a National Cycle Plexifairing would have more wind protection than most any other faired bikes in that class.  And when it is hot you can ride free of the windscreen and get clean, good air with less bugs, generally, than a faired bike.  My last bike was a naked Triumph Thunderbird and I had a Plexifairing for winter weather - it easily provided more protection from the cold than my Tiger does.  

The Hornet is also a smaller, more compact bike that may be easier if you are uncomfortable with the size of the FZ6 or V-strom 650.

Also of note int he low cc, short-bike category would be the Ducati Monster 620 or 695 - you'd probably need a different seat, though, as the pillion seats are small.  They do have a shorter range though as the tanks are a little smaller.

If you are going to do a lot of 2-up touring on a small, economy bike you may want to factor in some cost for an upgraded rear shock.

[Rincewind]

Also forgot to mention the Kawasaki 650R, which seems to have good legroom for the passenger, though maybe not the widest seat.  That's a cool little bike that you could get fully faired.  Or perhaps a fully faired Suzuki GS500 if you want to go even smaller.  

Depending on how short your passenger is, a 599cc CBR600F4i with a banana-seat might work well, too.  If your insurance is just looking at cc's and not bike type, I'd be very tempted to get a F4i.

[AJP]

Also forgot to mention the Kawasaki 650R, which seems to have good legroom for the passenger, though maybe not the widest seat.  That's a cool little bike that you could get fully faired.  Or perhaps a fully faired Suzuki GS500 if you want to go even smaller.  

Depending on how short your passenger is, a 599cc CBR600F4i with a banana-seat might work well, too.  If your insurance is just looking at cc's and not bike type, I'd be very tempted to get a F4i.

My wife sat on a 650R with me last year...she said she was genuinely surprised at how comfortable she found it to be.  Mind you, she was only up there for 30 seconds...

My insurance does indeed care only about engine CCs.  I have never sat on an F4i; I sort of presumed the ergos would be too "sport" to be comfortable for a passenger.  

Also of note int he low cc, short-bike category would be the Ducati Monster 620 or 695 - you'd probably need a different seat, though, as the pillion seats are small.  They do have a shorter range though as the tanks are a little smaller.

If you are going to do a lot of 2-up touring on a small, economy bike you may want to factor in some cost for an upgraded rear shock.

I visited the local Ducati dealer tonight, but they were completely sold out of the 695 and will not get more until next model year.  No used ones in stock either.  Is it true that repairs and maintenance on those are horrendous?

I'm going to hold off on a Honda 599 until I find out if we're getting the new version next year...

Thanks for all the input so far!

[davop]

My experience with handle bar mounted windscreens is that they are very sensative to wind conditions. Frame mounted farings affects the steering less.
I wouldn't want to go two up on the interstate for any distance on less than 600cc.

[tigertim955]

 As for Ducati,the maintenance is a bit more intensive . But it's not nearly what I'd expected when we bought our Multi. ( the '07's have longer service intervals )The Duc dealer in Ottawa is very good. I've only had service done there and have never needed help on the road. 25,000 kms and never a problem. ( add a Scottoiler....... fantastic product ) If you're a newer rider though, the insurance demon may raise his ugly head.
 A Ducati won't get you into trouble , but it's a willing and able accomplice !!! Greatest fun I've ever had on two wheels. Highly reccomended.

[Sorthum]

Were it up to me I'd investigate different insurance; two up on the SV650 is downright PAINFUL, as the suspension goes completely to crap.

[county]

60 + Hp will do the job.

750 Nighthawk or that 750 Kawasaki would work.

I'd stay away from anything "sporty" and go for a standard.  Take the s/o and go sit on some.  

[cosmoose]

Any recommendations (other than Corbin) for custom seats?  Or do you mean CUSTOM custom?

I meant CUSTOM custom, but a good Sargent might do you okay.  Frankly, most of the true custom shops aren't that much more expensive than a standard aftermarket seat.  And I wouldn't put anyone I liked on a Corbin.  

My list of seat makers:

Cee Bailey's
http://www.ceebaileys.com/seats/seatservmain.html

Rick Mayer
http://www.homestead.com/prosites-rmcycle

Rocky Mayer (under dad Bill's name)
http://www.billmayersaddles.com

Sargent (mine)
http://www.sargentcycle.com/custserv.htm

Russell (the be-all and end-all)
http://www.day-long.com

Russell's seats are more expensive, but they have an internal spring structure that allows the seat to be wider than the pan.  They're not pretty, but they will coddle your backside like nothing else.  If your butt ain't happy on a Russell, there's nothing to be done for you.  Dig what they did to this FZ1.  Now there's a passenger perch!

http://www.day-long.com/NewBikePges_9_07/Ymha_FZI.html

But the other guys do good work, too.  Any custom seat is probably better than stock by a long shot.  

Dave

[Mastros2]

+1 for the Suzuki sv650 of the Wee Strom